Primaries narrow Durham, Fayetteville mayoral fields

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Fayetteville, N.C. — Primary elections in Durham and Fayetteville Tuesday narrowed the fields for mayor ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.

Durham Mayor Bill Bell, who is seeking his seventh two-year term, will once again face challenger Rev. Sylvester Williams next month.

With 54 of 55 precincts reporting, Bell pulled in more than 87 percent of the vote over Williams, who lost to Bell in 2011, and business consultant and political newcomer Michael Valentine, according to unofficial results.

With just 5.6 percent of the vote, Valentine won't appear on the November ballot.

In Fayetteville, City Councilwoman Val Applewhite and former City Councilman Nat Robertson garnered the most support of the five candidates vying to become Mayor Tony Chavonne's successor. After eight years as mayor, Chavonne announced in April that he wouldn't seek re-election.

With all 55 precincts reporting, Applewhite brought in nearly 44 percent of the vote compared to Robertson's 31 percent, according to unofficial results. Robertson lost to Chavonne in 2011.

Applewhite, a six-year veteran of the City Council, said in a statement Tuesday night that her platform will focus on crime prevention, job creation and cutting waste.

"A vote for Val Applewhite is a vote to have your voice heard, get a seat at the table and choose a leader with integrity and experience," she said.